Posts Tagged ‘ChangeWave’

This week Amazon let us know it is selling millions of Kindle e-readers. The 2010 holiday quarter has already surpassed the total of all sales for 2009. The various estimates for Kindle sales for all of 2010 range from 4 to 7 million units will be sold. What’s the real number? Hopefully Amazon will tell us early next year.

A recent report by ChangeWave has the Amazon Kindle at a 47% share of the e-reader market based on their survey of consumers. The Apple iPad is next with 32% and that is if you consider the the iPad just an e-reader. The iPad certainly impacts this market and will continue to do so.

It should be no surprise the Kindle is at the top right now as a true eReader. The Kindle is relatively cheap, priced at between $139 and $149. You can find cheaper devices such as the Aluratek Libre and Kobo eReader which cost between $99 and $129.

What about functionality? Not all avid readers feel the need for over-the-top functionality. The Kindle’s black and white display is fine for reading. It is neat to have wifi that enables an online dictionary to look up those occasional new words. But this is not critical.

A revolution is starting as publishers are now beginning to convert their vast inventory of illustrated books into e-books. This is all possible due to Barnes and Noble’s new Nook Color and the Apple iPad color displays which will help them showcase their color illustrations and photographs. On Wednesday, Apple introduced 100 illustrated book titles in the iBookstore, a collection of cookbooks, children’s books, and photography books. Some of the most popular children’s books will be available with illustrations. Barnes & Noble’s Nook had announced publishing famous children’s books last month.

The Kindle and eReader market will continue to grow. According to Gartner, the market for eReaders is expected to grow by 68% in 2011 despite competition from the iPad and Galaxy Tablet. The Kindle is projected to sell 11 million devices in 2011 and will continue to be the market leader holding on to a 45% share. A key will be holding the price to a point where it can continue to be an affordable alternative.

It will be interesting to see if the Kindle continues on the predicted path or if the new entry in the market, Barnes and Noble’s Nook and the iPad will impact this trend. It will also be interesting to see how publishers will embrace this new technology to reach this new age consumer.

So how are eReaders impacting how you publish your content in the digital world?